Former college football coach Steve Spurrier appears skeptical of Arch Manning ahead of first year as starter

It's been conscionable a mates of years since Arch Manning was arguably the astir highly sought precocious schoolhouse enlistee successful the nation. He decided connected Austin, location of the Texas Longhorns.

When Quinn Ewers was selected successful the seventh round of the NFL Draft, it opened the doorway for Manning to go Texas' starting quarterback.

While Manning did amusement flashes during his constricted playing clip implicit the past mates of seasons, erstwhile assemblage shot manager Steve Spurrier doesn't look acceptable to bargain the hype surrounding the young quarterback.

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Head manager Steve Spurrier of the South Carolina Gamecocks walks disconnected the tract earlier the Capital One Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers Jan. 1, 2014, successful Orlando, Fla. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Spurrier, who coached the Florida Gators to a nationalist title successful 1996, questioned wherefore Longhorns manager Steve Sarkisian elected to commencement Ewers implicit Manning the past mates of seasons considering Manning's much-discussed potential.

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"Most radical are picking Texas to triumph the SEC successful football," Spurrier said during a caller quality connected "Another Dooley Noted" podcast. "They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is, if helium was this good, however travel they fto Quinn Ewers play each the clip past year? He was a seventh-round pick?

Quarterbacks Quinn Ewers (3) and Arch Manning (16) speech during the Texas Longhorns' archetypal shot signifier of 2023 astatine the Frank Denius Fields connected the University of Texas astatine Austin field March 6, 2023. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman/USA Today )

"You lone person to inquire Coach Sark however travel you played that 1 alternatively of this one," Spurrier continued. "Hopefully, he’ll say, ‘Because we thought helium was amended than that one.’ Isn’t that wherefore you play 1 feline and not the other? Unless it was discipline, and determination was nary subject oregon anything."

Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns warms up earlier a crippled against the Wyoming Cowboys astatine Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Sept. 16, 2023, successful Austin, Texas.  (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

During Manning's clip connected the bench, helium faced questions astir whether helium would permission Texas for different programme that would springiness him an accidental to play close away.

"It was tough. I mean, it’s pugnacious successful this age," Manning, 19, noted erstwhile helium spoke to the media successful April astir waiting his turn, according to The Athletic. "Sometimes it’s worthy the wait."

Manning doubled down connected his committedness to the Longhorns and said helium hopes to stay successful Austin for the foreseeable future. 

"But I anticipation it pays off. There’s obscurity other I privation to be," Manning said. "I privation to beryllium astatine Texas. I’ve got friends here. I emotion this place. So, I privation to beryllium the backmost astatine the University of Texas."

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Manning appeared successful 10 games past season, including 2 helium started successful spot of an injured Ewers. He finished the 2024 play with 939 passing yards, 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Manning besides showed his athleticism, rushing for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Texas defeated Clemson successful the archetypal circular of the College Football Playoff earlier a thrilling overtime triumph implicit Arizona State successful the quarterfinal. The eventual nationalist champion Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated the Longhorns from playoff contention successful January.

Texas opens the 2025 play against the Buckeyes successful Columbus Aug. 30.

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